Just started to pull the 3AT out to repair the front differential which is hammered. The transmission is fine just the differential is the problem. I already have a 5 speed manual FWD transmission with clutch, flywheel ready to go in if the 3 AT is unrepairable.Photos and updates to follow. 

Edited March 14, 20215 yr by Moto7man
Grammer

I've swapped Differentials on Automatics, it is somehow, Easy.

The hardest part was to remove the Transmission from the car,

open it to reach the diff, then reseal it and reinstall it.

Kind Regards.

 

(as usual on my posts, underlined words are web links to further information and photos about the underlined subject)

3AT transmission is out of car.

Edited March 27, 20215 yr by Moto7man
Grammer

Removed torque converter, I had already drained ATF from transmission, the front differential was dry. Looks like the pinion bearing disintegrated, then the pinion disintegrated and took a chip out of the ring gear. I marked the component positions with a marker.

Here is a shot of the bell housing after disassembly. 

Collapsed pinion and bearing.

Another shot of the pinion etc.

The differential was leaking, I suppose from the bottom of the case.

I know I have to remove the next section to get access to the pinion nut. I have already removed the external case bolts with the double washers.Do I move the governor, the speedo gear and the oil pump drive shaft,the turbine output shaft by removing the oil pump shaft bushing,the spring pin,the snap ring,the speedometer drive gear,the other snap ring? Then will the 2nd section of the case split away?

Components just described above.

The transmission was working well before differential failure.This is a shot of the torque converter.

Edited March 27, 20215 yr by Moto7man
Wrong file

I had one front diff run dry, leaked out the axle stub seals.

The dead bearings wrecked the inside of the front case section.

The oil pump shaft just slides out.

The dissasembly starts at the rear end.

The transmission parts are likely still as good as they were when it was running.   The diff is seperate,  uses gear lube.  The seals between the diff and the transmission sections are probablyruined also.

Thanks! I think the axle stub seals were leaking on mine as well. I will pull out the oil pump shaft and the governor and the speedo gear and go from there.

Everything you described is standard mode of operation for the 3AT! We had one in the family lock up when the pinion shaft tried to insert itself into the diff centre when the pinion bearing imploded/exploded itself - due to a lack of oil! 

All the best with the rebuild... 

Cheers 

Bennie

I pulled the differential off yesterday. It was fairly straight forward. I removed the governor assembly, the sun disks,the bearings,drive gears, everything pulled out of the case without a problem, then I split the differential case from the rear of the transmission. Now for the bad news, the reverse side of the differential case wasn’t in bad shape, but some bearings from the destroyed pinion bearing had damaged the upper shaft gear and housing. Also, the the entire back side of the differential housing was full of fine metal debris. Also, due to lack of lubrication, the governor was begging to apple core a little bit

 The transmission section was like new and damage and debris free. The transmission has always run perfect and it is looks new inside. I bought a 5MT five years ago with a flywheel and clutch kit and shifter, so I am going to install go the mt route. I need a mt manual transmission crossmember with the longer bolts if anyone has one. 
 

If anyone needs this 3AT,just pm me, it works fine, it just needs a differential.

 

 

I need a transmission crossmember to mount up my FWD 5MT, does anybody have one?

I have my 5MT about ready to go in fwd Loyale. But I need a transmission cross member.Anybody got one?
 

 

Is the rear electrical connector for the reverse light?Is the other connector for the dash or clutch interrupter?

 

The oring and seal behind the bearing retainer looks good, no leaks anywhere,would it be a good idea to replace the oring and seal anyway? 

 

 

Edited May 2, 20214 yr by Moto7man
Specify question in greater detail.

On your last picture-  If you remove the bearing holder, you will have to re set the bearing pre load / pinion & ring gear alignment.

Maybe if you carefully, mark the position, and count turns while removing you could get it back where it was.    I have not tried this.  I have read the FSM directions for assembly, it doesn't seem trivial / fun to do right.

Those are almost never preventatively replaced.  They’re relatively easy to do in the car. Pull axle and replace. I wouldn’t do it unless the history and/or condition of the trans and seals wowed me. I might make the decision based on condition history storage.

But they do leak occasionally, that’s a very old trans, and are very simple to do right now

Mark exact location and count turns if you do. It needs installed the exact same location and depth to orient the front diff guts.
 

 

Edited May 3, 20214 yr by idosubaru